Legal Question in Family Law in Florida
Adoption costs
My 14 yr old daughter would like to be adopted by her stepfather, she has not seen her biological day in over 8 yrs. Her stepdad has been in her life for the past 6 years. I have been told adoption can be costly I cant afford it , Could I do it on my own? If so , in this case being that she is 14 and having no contact with her father does that make things easier? His name is on the birth certificate and thats where Im Having issues.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Adoption costs
Adoption of the type you want, called "step-parent adoption," is not nearly so expensive as the other types of adoption, and it can be done by most family lawyers. I don't want to make it seem easy, though, and you shouldn't attempt it on your own. You should be able to find a lawyer who will complete the process for $2000 to $5000, depending on what area you live in.
Doing an adoption of any type on your own is always a bad idea, and it can have serious ramifications on a child's life. Having a lawyer is especially important if you think the biological father may appear and object to the adoption.
Re: Adoption costs
I do not recommend trying to petition the court for adoption yourself. Going forward with a step-parent adoption will be an expense, but not nearly as expensive as other types of adoption. Also, in step-parent and relative adoptions, there are several documents that you can complete yourself which reduces the costs. My office handles these matters, so please feel free to email more details or call for a free consultation.
Best wishes to your 14 year old daughter.
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